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Today we want to talk to you aboutimportance of passwords. Of theimportance of password managers and consequently how you will have understood the importance of finding valid ones alternatives to Google Password Manager. Perhaps among all the products of Google this is probably one of the worst and the one that many use without even paying attention. We have already suggested some alternatives for Google Drive and for Google Photos, we also talked about security in the article on alternatives to Whatsapp.
So why find alternatives to Google Password Manager? Because saving passwords to your Google account is a really bad idea when it comes to online security.
Save passwords to Google Chrome (and then perhaps automatically synchronized in your Google account) is not a good idea, they can be exported with a simple click 1 and are often treated with disdain by those who use them. The alternatives to Google Password Manager that we propose instead have encrypted passwords but still remain practical in daily use.
But let's take an example that helps us better understand what we are talking about: you lend your computer to a friend of yours or to a technician to fix it, to do so you will most likely give him the password to access the computer otherwise he couldn't even turn it on. Well, you know that from this moment on if you have saved the password on Google Chrome (and in general about Browsers) that person can know with two clicks and without particular computer knowledge Facebook password or of your bank if you have saved the password on Browsers 2? It can even export all the passwords in clear text in just a few seconds and keep them in a USB stick to look at them later calmly. Without you ever knowing anything about it.
So do good to yourselves and don't save never passwords in your Browsers.
What password to use?
Of course, the safest thing in the world would be to write all your passwords by hand on a piece of paper, but to us this alternative seems like madness in everyday life. So the alternatives that we propose today serve precisely to remedy this. Of systems safe, encrypted and possibly Open source for the rescue automatic of your passwords.
What a password should be? Well the simplest thing is to use one of the following password manager and have them generate a password at least 20 alphanumeric characters and then memorize it and never have to remember it. If you were to use a piece of paper instead, the best method is to use something like: UmbrellaChainHairCracker. This way you will only need to remember 4 words and not strange characters that are more difficult for the human mind than for a computer. Don't you believe it? Try it yourself on this site: security.org/how-secure-is-my-password a password like UmbrellaChainHairCracker it would take 885octillion years to hack. And a password with for example 8 strange and difficult to remember characters like f85D6*LH? Only 9 hours.
The importance of 2FA also in alternatives to Google Password Manager
One last important thing: use thetwo-factor authentication, it's really theonly way For reduce drastically the possibility of someone stealing your account (and don't think that only happens to Hollywood stars). Even if you have a super secure password, in fact there are some sites on which you registered it may have been punctured and the your passwords exposed to hackers in clear text in case the site you are registered on uses terrible security practices.
Here you can check if this has ever happened: https://monitor.firefox.com/ in case you find any site, change your password immediately And never use the same password for multiple services!
Bitwarden
Open source
independent audits
He is certainly in the top position, detaching all the other contenders by a huge margin Bitwarden. It's a encrypted password manager, very convenient but above all completely open-source with a recent security audit (review) by a third-party company passed brilliantly 3. Signing up is quick, easy and free. You can install it on Android and on theApp stores to be able to insert automatically and in a few seconds the passwords on your mobile phones. Or use theextension on Firefox for automatic insertion into all websites. You can also generate long passwords and save them automatically.
One password for everything
The one and only precaution you must have is that of remind you of your Bitwarden password. One and only password to remember (and not to say NEVER to anyone) and all your complicated and secure passwords will be saved inside without you ever having to remember them.
It is also possible share some parts of the safe with other people, if you have passwords shared within the family this is the best method! The version PRO which costs only 1$ per month and allows you to enable i OTP codes for two-factor authentication. In short: automatically entering your username and password on a site will copy you to the clipboard OTP code created by him to be inserted as a two-factor authentication code without the need for other apps. In just a few clicks you can also import the passwords you have saved on Chrome, on Firefox or any other application.
AGAINST
There is really nothing negative about Bitwarden, the only caveat is that if you use it, remember that it is a cloud password. You must therefore trust Bitwarden (but today there is no reason to doubt it) unless you want to self-host it yourself but it is an operation that we do not recommend to most people.
Update 08/21: the Devol collective has decided to shoot on a Instance Bitwarden can be used for free with all the features of the paid version. You can find it at: https://vaultwarden.devol.it/
Proton Pass
Open source
independent audits
Brand new application produced by Proton, a certainty when it comes to privacy and security. It came out of the beta version at the end of June 2023 and is now available to everyone also in a free (limited) version. It is included in the Proton Unlimited, Business and Family plan and can be purchased separately for €1 per month until the end of July 2023 and then becomes €3.99.
We wrote a review of it here and it seems like an excellent alternative to Bitwarden, it is very beautiful graphically and allows you to easily manage email aliases (and perfectly integrated with SimpleLogin).
AGAINST
It certainly has some youthful flaws and therefore some fewer features compared to other competitors. On desktop it can only be used via extension of Browsers.
• • • •Firefox Lockwise
Open source
Attention: Firefox Lockwise has been discontinued by Mozilla 4, will continue to exist but integrated into the Browsers and no longer as a separate application.
If you are Firefox addicted and you are sure of your choice you might consider using their password management system. Firefox Lockwise it is indeed Open source 5, free and the Passwords are encrypted and safe. Unfortunately, however, it can be used only in Browsers Firefox or you can use it on your mobile phone Android or on your iPhone. I recommend that if you choose Firefox Lockwise you set an additional password. It's called the “master password” and you can find it in the Firefox settings. It is therefore one really interesting proposal although we prefer an application separated to Browsers to save your passwords.
Padloc
Open source
independent audits
A truly very interesting and more expensive alternative to Bitwarden: it can also be used in the free version but the paid version costs from €35 to €50 per year 6. Padloc is graphically very captivating, it is Open source and has received three independent security audits. From mid-2022 the version 4.0.
1Password
green server on AWS
independent audits
1Password is an application from the company AgileBits 7. Unlike all the other password managers we have known, there is no free version 8 but there is only the possibility of doing a 30 day trial. The cost for the basic version is 3$ per month and offers many interesting services. There is the app for Android and for telephones Apple. There is also theextension for Firefox.
AGAINST
This service too, unlike Bitwarden, unfortunately it is not a open source.
Dashlane
Open source
Dashlane, a password manager very good and with several interesting features (not all of which are exactly safe 9). It is not Open source. However, they too have never suffered attacks or security incidents, the application is available on Android and on theApp Store. The paid version costs just over €3 per month and also offers dark web monitoring. They recently released the source code of their applications 10, great thing!
AGAINST As mentioned, the app is very good and among the best but since it is not open-source it is less secure than Bitwarden, Dashlane However, up to now it has proven to be a serious and serious company Bitwarden and 1Password if you don't like it, this is perhaps the best alternative.
Keepass
Open source
Unlike everyone else password manager which work in the cloud and which you can therefore always have at hand on any device Browsers and platform you are on, Keepass it's a Lightweight password manager, free and open source but completely offline. So the concept is the same as the previous ones but it's more like having an offline digital safe rather than a cross-platform password manager. If you don't trust anyone, this is the program for you. They report us 11 that you can use Keepass also for two-factor authentication because it allows the management of TOTP.
Update 05/15/20: thanks to your report we add Keeweb. Keeweb it is one of the methods, perhaps the best, for use Keepass also in the cloud and not just offline. With Keeweb in fact you can also use a cloud like Google Drive or Onedrive (or if you are capable WebDAV) to store your passwords and then also use a practice extension so as not to manually copy the various data. In this way the problem of the offline-only digital safe can be overcome.
The difference between Keepass and the previous ones is precisely this: while with Bitwarden and the others you will have an “all in one” platform, Keepass requires an extra step. It is in fact an offline safe that can become online if connected to some cloud of your choice. It is more advanced than the others, you can try it especially if you feel like experimenting a bit.
AGAINST
The inconvenience of having to copy and paste passwords manually unless using third-party platforms such as Keeweb, KeepassXC or Keepass2Android therefore with a minimum of more work than previous password managers.
NordPass
independent audits
Let's also talk about NordPass. He is the password manager of the company he manages and created NordVPN. NordPass appears to be a safe alternative, it passed an independent audit in 2020 12.
It has several features including the ability to generate and manage OTPs. It is present everywhere, you can download it for Windows, macOS And Linux. There is an extension for Brave/Chrome And Firefox and you can also download the application for Android and for iOS.
AGAINST
It is not open source and the style of NordPass is the same as that of NordVPN. There is no clear and precise price but there are always offers "expiring soon", timers to rush and pressure the end user. A commercial practice that we do not appreciate at all.
LastPass
Let's talk about LastPass, one of the password manager most famous of all. Graphically nice and attractive, the dashboard and its use in general are a bit confusing. AND free and the Premium version it costs 3$ per month. LastPass is no longer free but you can use it for free only on one type of device. Either only on smartphones or only on desktop 13. Also LastPass as Bitwarden and other password managers allows you to check if there have been “data breach” on your identity by indicating only your email address.
There is an app for Android and also the app for Apple to be able to automatically enter your passwords from your mobile phone and no longer have to enter them manually. There is obviously also one extension for Firefox.
AGAINST
It is not open source and throughout its history it has had several security incidents 14 which do not make it absolutely reliable as regards the future.
More alternatives to Google Password Manager
- A mandatory report also for KeeperSecurity which boasts of being the most secure of all applications on the market, even of Bitwarden 15.
- Another quote for I am, a software Open source 16 European multiplatform. Available in both free and paid versions.
- Interesting too Buttercup, Always Open source 17 and totally free. Also Passbolt noteworthy, too Open source 18 it's free.
- If, however, you need a very effective but equally simple password manager, you can also take a look at
Clipperz. Update: Clipperz it is currently not recommended as it has not been updated since 2019.
- ANOTHERpass is an interesting and fairly new offline password manager.
- Manage passwords - Google Chrome Help[↩]
- Manage passwords - Google Chrome Help[↩]
- Security Audit Complete[↩]
- End of support for Firefox Lockwise app[↩]
- Firefox Lockwise on GitHub[↩]
- Padloc plans[↩]
- AgileBits[↩]
- 1Password Sign up[↩]
- Why Dashlane Cannot Be Trusted[↩]
- Dashlane publishes the source code of its applications[↩]
- Report on Telegram[↩]
- “Cure53” Has Audited NordPass and Verified Its Robust Security[↩]
- Changes to LastPass Free[↩]
- Lastpass Security issues[↩]
- It's dangerous to crowdsource your organisation's cybersecurity.[↩]
- source code of Psono[↩]
- source code by Buttercup[↩]
- source code by Passbolt[↩]
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